The man who punched a protester during the North Carolina rally of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump last week has been arrested. According to reports, Trump is considering paying the legal fees that the said man is facing.
In a report by Yahoo News, Trump appeared on NBC's "Meet The Press" on Sunday and said that the man who punched a protester got carried away adding that "he obviously loves his country." Trump thought that maybe the arrested man, identified as 78-year-old John McGraw, does not like seeing what is happening to the US. Trump also said that he told his people to look into the matter.
Per the videos of the punching, McGraw was at the rally in Fayetteville, North Carolina when he attacked the protester, named Rakeem Jones, 26. Jones was being led out of the event by security when he was punched by McGraw. In an interview with McGraw, he said he assaulted Jones because "he deserved it" and that he could even kill the protester the next time he sees him. McGraw was not arrested during the rally but he was picked up by police a day after. He has been charged with assault and disorderly conduct.
Cumberland County Sheriff Earl Butler said in a statement that no person should be subjected to a "cowardly, unprovoked act" as what McGraw regardless of one's political affiliation or "speech, race, national origin, color, gender, bad reputation, prior acts or political demonstration."
Some critics of Trump have accused the Republican presidential frontrunner of inciting violence as he did encourage crowds at his previous rallies to take out protesters whom he calls "professional disrupters," The New York Post reported. The critics noted that Trump offered to pay for their legal bills so as to handle problem guests.
During a rally in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Trump told his supporters that if they see someone getting ready to "throw a tomato, knock the crap out of them" promising that he will pay their legal fees. CTV News also reported that Trump once commented about him wanting to punch a protester in the face.
His contenders have expressed their concern about someone possible dying at a Trump rally. Marco Rubio said in a statement that Trump has turned the most important election into a circus. Ted Cruz also holds Trump responsible for the punching episode at the NC rally noting that "responsibility starts at the top."
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